Valve stem

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a valve stem for a gas-lighter refill pack, the stem having a bore extending lengthwise therethrough for directing gas from the pack to a lighter, wherein the stem at its free end is shaped to enable the refill of both a lighter having a ball-type of valve and a lighter having a pin-type of valve with a central passage therethrough for the passage of gas.

United States Patent [72] Inventors AlecSchuman Enfield; Frederick James Gallagher, Hayes, both of, England [21] Appl. No. 842,309

[22] Filed July 16, 1969 [45] Patented June 8,1971

[73] Assignee Bespack Industries Limited [54] VALVE STEM 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

52 u.s.c1 51135;; 1511 1111.01 B65b1/04,

B67c3/00 so FieldoiSearch 141/311,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,307,598 3/1967 Lowenthal 141/311 3,476,158 11/1969 Retzler 141/352 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney-Lawrence E. Laubscher ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a valve stem for a gaslighter refill pack, the stem having a bore extending lengthwise therethrough for directing gas from tee pack to a lighter, wherein the stem at its free end is shaped to enable the refill of both a lighter having a balltype of valve and a lighter having a pin-type of valve with a central passage therethrough for the passage of gas.

PATENTED JUN 8:971 3583448 Alec. 56 m Frederik 3T l g INVENTOR wilz m ATTORNEY VALVE STEM This invention relates to a valve stem for a gas-lighter refill pack.

According to the invention, there is provided a valve stem for a gas-lighter refill pack, the stem having a bore extending lengthwise therethrough for directing gas from the pack to a lighter, wherein the stem at its free end is shaped to enable the refill of both a lighter having a ball-type of valve and a lighter having a pin-type of valve with a central passage therethrough for the passage of gas.

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof given, by way of example only, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FlG. l is atop plan of the valve stem according to the invention;

P16. 2 is a partially broken away perspective view on the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a scrap view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of the valve stem of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the valve stem 1 is preferably formed of a synthetic plastic material and is normally biased to a valve-closed position on the body of the refill pack (not shown). When the stem is pressed in the direction of its length against the lighter valve, which is also biased to a closed condition, the lighter and refill valves are opened against their bias to permit gas to flow from the refill pack through bore 2 of the stem into the lighter; removal of the stem from the lighter enables the lighter and refill valves to return under their bias to a closed condition.

The free end portion of the stem is specially shaped so that a lighter having a ball-type of valve, as well as a lighter having a pin-type of valve with a central passage in a pin for the passage of gas therethrough, can be filled. Thus, the cross section of the bore 2 is a square at the tip 5 of the stem, and is a circle at a location 6 part way along the length of the bore away from the tip of the stem, the diameter of the circle being equal to the length of a side of the square. The transition from square to circle is achieved conveniently by four planes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem from the tip 5 to the location 6, and cut through a cone whose longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the stem l, thereby to provide the bore wall in the region between the stem tip 5 and location 6 with four fiat surfaces 8 and four part-conical surfaces 9 alternately disposed around the circumference of the bore wall. When the stem is pressed against the ball of a balltype of valve, a point contact results between each surface 8 and the ball enabling gas to issue from bore 2 past the ball; the intermediate surfaces 9 are also shaped to ensure that there is sufficient clearance between the ball and surfaces 9 to permit gas flow therebetween.

When the stem is pressed against the pin of a pin-type valve, the extremities of the pin, which is of circular cross section, will make sealing engagement with surfaces 8 and 9 in the region of location 6, thereby enabling a gas-sealed connection to be established between the bore 2 and the central passage of the pin.

What we claim is:

l. A valve stem adapted for use with a refill pack for refilling a lighter having either a ball-type or a hollow cylindrical pin-type valve that is biased toward a closed condition, comprising a valve stem body (1) containing a longitudinal through bore including a cylindrical first portion (2) that terminates at a circular edge (6) spaced inwardly from the tip of said stem body, and a divergent portion that terminates at its free end in a square-shaped edge (5) contained in the end surface of said body, the transition wall surface of said divergent portion including four flat surfaces arranged alternately with four frustoconical surfaces (9), respectively, each of said flat surfaces containing at its outer extremity one corresponding side of said square-shaped edge, respectively, said flat surfaces being contiguous at their inner edges with said circular edge,

respectively, said four flat surfaces being so arranged that when said stem is pressed against the ball of a ball-type filing valve, a point contact results between each surface and the ball, and when said stem is pressed against the pin of a pintype valve, the extremity of the pin makes sealing engagement with the fiat and frustoconical surfaces adjacent said circular edge.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the length of each side of said square-shaped edge equals the diameter of said circular edge. 

1. A valve stem adapted for use with a refill pack for refilling a lighter having either a ball-type or a hollow cylindrical pintype valve that is biased toward a closed condition, comprising a valve stem body (1) containing a longitudinal through bore including a cylindrical first portion (2) that terminates at a circular edge (6) spaced inwardly from the tip of said stem body, and a divergent portion that terminates at its free end in a square-shaped edge (5) contained in the end surface of said body, the transition wall surface of said divergent portion including four flat surfaces arranged alternately with four frustoconical surfaces (9), respectively, each of said flat surfaces containing at its outer extremity one corresponding side of said squareshaped edge, respectively, said flat surfaces being contiguous at their inner edges with said circular edge, respectively, said four flat surfaces being so arranged that when said stem is pressed against the ball of a ball-type filing valve, a point contact results between each surface and the ball, and when said stem is pressed against the pin of a pin-type valve, the extremity of the pin makes sealing engagement with the flat and frustoconical surfaces adjacent said circular edge.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the length of each side of said square-shaped edge equals the diameter of said circular edge. 